New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-20
ELEVATED TRAINS CRASH.
A COLLISION AT CHATHAM SQUARE.

A SECOND AVENUE DOWN TRAIN RUNS INTO
THIRD AVENUE UP TRAIN-AN ENGINEER DIS
CHARGED.
crash at the Chatham Square Station OF the Elevated
roads alarmed tho occupants Of buildings In that neign
bOrhoOd just before 10 o. m. yesterday TWO ecVated
trains had come into collision and some splinters OK
wood had fallen into Steam was rushing from
ono locomotive Overwhelmingly. There were screams
shouts and loud commands 1t not long before IL was
learned that serious injury had been caused anu that
no lives were Along the streets branching ron the
souare ran shouts Of "NObOdy hurt!" 'Only an
ordinary smasl-up!" On the station platform about
hundred frightened passengers were pouring out OF o
Third-aye tran one car OF which partly wrecked
and filed with steam. Men grumbling, and some or
tho women crying with alarm. Gatemen anu
guards succeeded calming the crowd to some extent
and in turning the passengers down the stairs to the
pavement.
The collision occurred at the dangerous point in
the elevated railway system the junction Of Division-s
with the B0wery, where the tracks Of the Second
ave- line unite with and the tracks OF the Third
line. One Of the trains In collision was Second
ave. train Of four going downtown, drawn by
locomotive No. POI. and crowded with passengers.
There had been delay on the Thlrd-ave
line in the morning, and travel on the
secondave road had been increased greatly.
As tho train rounded the curve near Chatham Square
signal dropped to warn Engineer Lightheser, who was
on the locomotive and the switches were turned 70 per
Thirdave train Of five began TO pass the station
the up track which Lightheiser had to CROSS Both
trains going slowly Lightheser put on the
brakes stop his train but the distance was TOO snort
and his engine crushed into tho forward platform OF the
middle car OF the Thirave. train
The shock brought both trains TO standstill Many
passengers I'm the trains standings they were hurled
In heaps upon those who seated Not rev
had slight bruises. but 1t not known that
any was hurt seriously. The Third-ave. car which
struck knocked partly of the tracks, its forward
platform smashed AMI it's forward trucks displaced
and from the broken pipes the steam rushed In
white cloud Iighthesers locomotive was damaged Sc
verey his Jared better than the other 1t was
until the wreck had been removed that the passen
gers train could be landed at the Chatham Square
Station.
1t took nearly hour raise the damaged set
Its trucks properly and drag 1t away to the repair
while Trains going down the Bowery were run Into q
pocket north OF the Chatham Square Station and sent up
town again. Some down trains on the secOndave line
we're switched tO the up track Trains were run nom
South Ferry and City Hall and passengers transferred
The blame OF the accident laid upon Engineer Light
heiser. Manager lain sad
Ligheser has been dismissed All the switches ct the
Chatham square junction operated BY an nterocking
system signal for the uptown trains the Thrdavo
road from South Ferry IL displayed Just below Division ST.
This signal show ed clear road Tor the north bound tran anu
tom this signal could not be shown with
first sh the danger signal for down town trains on
road THIS signal about 100 eet east OF
crossing In Division St. but Lehheser ran BY It The
damage TO the rolling stock will not exceed s2OO.
10 was said that splnters OF wood and pieces Of iron
endangered the lives OF several persons
passing under the station piece OF iron from
the broken fell just in front OF man. and woman
narrowly escaped being Drained by another chunk OF
iron